Rut filler for logging roads



JQ BERNIER RUT FILLER FOR 'LOGGING ROADS Filed' Feb. 15, 1926 Feb.

ATTORNEY FIG. 2

Patented Feb. l, 1927.

JOSEPH BERNIER, or Lne rnonfrrnnn, GUEBECQCANADA.

nur Finnen ron noGGING Reims.

Appucaaon fusa February This invention relates to new and useful improvements in the `method of and apparatus for icing logging roads and the object of the invention is to provide a very simple method of filling up the ruts formed by logging trains on the road beds, said filling up being done economically as regards labour and time required when compared with the system at present in use.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of simplec'ons'tru'ction `which will be easy to operate and efilicien't in action.

As far as I am aware upto thepr'esent time, it has been customary to till up at night enduring any such slack period, the ruts cut in thel ice road bed` by logging trains. This ope'rati'on is usually accomplished by mounting a water tank on a heavy sled and pulling same over the logging road, allowing' water from the tank to flow from said tank into the 'ruts behind the sled, 'said water being allowed to freeze and form a good road bedfor the passage of a logging train ther'eover. This entails employment of special labour and as a rule four or live men are used per team, This forms a very expensive item `in logging In my invention, I provide much simpler method of repair ing such road beds.

In my method of accomplishing the above object, I make use of heat to melt the snow or ice surrounding the ruts so that it will flow and level up the bed, and when frozen over will form a first class road for logging purposes. In my preferred form, I make use of a sled having hollow runners which may be heated from any suitable means such as a steam generating plant mounted on a platform secured to the runners. The steam is led from the boiler into the runners and from the runners back into the source of water supply to the boiler, or it may be discharged in such a manner that it will come in Contact with the road bed behind the sled to assist in the operation of levelling up same. The sled may be attached to the end of a logging train or it may be used as an independent unit.

In the drawings which illustrate one form of my invention:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved icing sled.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1.

15, 192s.` serial No. 88,457.

Figure y3 'is a sectional end view of the runner taken on the line 3 3 Figure` 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 11 designates the main body of the runners which are of hollow construction, as shown inrdetail in Figure 3. VEach runner is supplied `with an upwardlyv turned nose pieeeat each end which closes theI ends of the runners forming hollow containers. The noses of the runners may be secured to the main body of the runners by Vany suitL able means (not shown). Extending upwardly from the uppermost surfaces 'of the runners are the spacers 14; which are recessed as at 15, toy receive the Vbrackets 16 which support the platform 17 and also form means for yholding `the runners in spaced parallel relationship. Mounted on the platform is the boiler 18 which may be heated from any suitable means such as the burner 19. A water` tank 2O may also be mounted o-n the platform and Valso a 'coal or fuel holder 21. The boiler and water tank are so mounted on the sled to distribute the load evenly over the bottom of the runners. later may be fed into the boiler from the 'tanky through the pipeV 2'2- and an injector may be fitted in said pipe in close proximityv toy the boiler', steainbeing supplied to the injector tl'irough the pipe 2li-,which is 'connect-ed tothe top of fthe boiler. The steam generated in the boiler is led through suitable pipe connection into the body of the runners to heat same. In the drawing, I have shown Va pipe connection 25L at the' top of the boiler', said pipe connecting with a pair of pipes 25 and 26 running parallel with the runners and approximately midway between them. The pipe 25 is provided with a valve 27 and makes connection with a pair of pipes 28, each connected to one end of the runners. The pipe 26 is also provided with a suitable valve 29 and makes connection with a pair of pipes 30, connected to the other vends of the sleds. The steam which flows into the runners may be discharged therefrom into the water tank through the pipes 31 which may be provided with suitable valves 32, or the steam may be discharged through the pipes 33 and 34, the latter being horizontally disposed and lying parallel and close to the runner with their open ends in. close proximity to the noses of the runners, so that the steam may be discharged directly into the snow or ice forming the road bed to melt same, so that when in liquid form it will level up and then freeze over to form a first class road bed. Valves 35 and 36 may be provided in each of the pipes 34 to control the flow of steam from the runners. Lugs 37 may project upwardly from the nose of the runners so that a spacing bolt 38 may be passed therethrough and held in position by the nuts 39, to hold the runners in parallelism or to form a means for attaching the device to a hauling medium (not shown). Bifurcated lugs Ll() may also be provided in the noses at each end thereof for securing the device to a loggingtrain or the like, holes 41 being provided in said lugs for pins, bolts or such like attaining means.

In the drawings I have shown a steam generator for heating the runners, but it will be readily understood that any source of runner heating medium may be used. @ther iodilications may be made in the general construction of the device, the main object of which is to melt the surrounding snow and fill up ruts in any logging road bed.

In operation the device is attached to anyl suitable hauling means, such as the end of a logging train. Steam is generated in the boiler and led into the hollow runners preferably at the end nearest the source of hauling. The steam is discharged from the runners so that it will contact with the snow or ice behind the sled or at the end remote from the source of hauling. Valves are provided in the various pipe lines for this purpose. rlhe device shown may be hauled in either direction with equal results and forms a very simple, economical and easily operated device which will be eticient in repairing or lilling up ruts cut in the road bed by logging trains.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l.. An apparatus of the character described comprising a plurality lof hollow runners7 means for admitting a heating fluid to the interior of said'runners, discharge pipes paralleling said runners with the ends of said pipes open and located adjacent the. front and rear ends of the runners and means for conducting the heating fiuid from the runners to said discharge pipes.

2. apparatus of the character described comprising a hollow runner, nieans for supplying a liuid heating agent to the interior of said ruimer, a discharge pipe extending longitudinally of the runner at one side thereof, said pipe having both ends open and arranged adjacent the front and rear ends of the runner, and a valve controlled connection between said pipe and the interior of the runner whereby the fiuid heating agent delivered to the runner may be discharged therefrom through said discharge pipe into contact with the ground at the front and rear ends of the runner.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising a hollow runner, a supply tank containing a fiuid heating agent, means for conducting the heating agent from said tank to the interior of said runner, a discharge pipe arranged atone side of the runner, the ends of said pipe beinv open and located adjacent the front and rear ends of the runner, a return pipe for conducting the heating agent from the runner back to said tank and valve means operable to cause the heating agent contained in the runner to pass outwardly therefromeither through the discharge pipe or the return pipe.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JQSEPH BERNIER. 

